Arizona police made fewer impaired driving arrests in 2014 for the third consecutive year, but that trend is tempered by a small increase in the number of extreme driving-under-the-influence arrests, indicating that highly impaired drivers still pose a formidable risk on the state's highways.

DUI arrests have fallen from a record high of 32,174 in 2012 to 31,892 in 2013, and still further to 28,471 in 2014, statistics that make Alberto Gutier, director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, proud.

"I'm very encouraged by the fact that people understand the consequences," Gutier said. "We're doing something right. I think the public understands the dangers of driving drunk."

He said less arrests mean less impaired drivers are behind the steering wheel, especially with the increasing number of officers participating in saturation patrols and the ability of police to spot more drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs because of better training.

During the same period, the number of sober designated drivers contacted by police during traffic stops has more than doubled, from 6,759 in 2013 to 14,079 in 2014.

"I'm thrilled," Gutier said.

But there also are some numbers in the year-end report, released Friday, that aren't so thrilling.

The average known blood-alcohol content reported by police rose slightly from 0.151 percent to 0.152 and falls into the extreme DUI category, which triggers harsher penalties. In Arizona, drivers are presumed under the influence with an 0.8 percent or more.

Further underscoring the problem is that the number of extreme DUI arrests rose slightly from 8,212 in 2013 to 8,256 in 2014, demonstrating a continuation of a chronic problem, Gutier said.

"There's an element that thinks nothing will happen to them, that they can drink and drink and drink," Gutier said. "They don't realize the extreme hazards to themselves and others. That's the element that concerns us."

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An interesting statistical side note is that overall DUI arrests fell despite a substantial increase in the number of officers assigned to patrol duties, with 5,790 more officers and deputies working during 2014 in comparison to 2013.

Throughout the annual peak season, from Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve 2014, there were 9,685 officers assigned to patrol duties, up 1,387 from 2013.